EXTON, Pa., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Absorption Systems, a world leader in developing novel test systems for pharmacokinetics and drug-drug interactions, announces the launch of ExpressPlus™ Transporters, a series of early-stage screening assays to detect interactions of new drug candidates with membrane proteins called transporters. ExpressPlus is a natural extension of Absorption Systems' proprietary cell-based test systems, CellPort Technologies®. The new drug transporter screens use CellPort cell lines, developed by Absorption Systems' cell biologists with funding from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It's the best of both worlds, with the speed of ExpressPlus and the quality and innovation of CellPort Technologies.

The addition of nine screening assays provides a package of clinically relevant drug transporters as specified by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Transporters are involved in the absorption, distribution, and elimination of many drugs. As a result, two drugs interacting with the same transporter can interfere with each other, leading to a drug-drug interaction (DDI), the risk of which is particularly high among patient populations taking multiple medications. The consequences of DDIs can include unexpected side effects, organ damage, or death. According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, as many as 2.2 million older Americans are at risk of a major DDI.

ExpressPlus delivers translational data earlier, based on the same industry-leading test systems used for more definitive assays, thereby providing drug developers a thorough understanding of a particular type of safety liability early in the process. Identifying such issues early enables drug makers to be more effective in deciding whether new drug candidates are safe enough for further development or should be dropped in favor of other candidates. Ultimately, this quick and cost-effective screening package sets the stage for further testing, as required by drug regulatory agencies such as the FDA and the EMA.

Patrick Dentinger, President and CEO of Absorption Systems, said, "Our business model has always been to establish robust, reproducible test systems that are thoroughly characterized before launching them as a service. With the launch of ExpressPlus, we introduce a modified version of the CellPort suite of assays, to a customer base whose daily research pressures center around two words: rapid and cost-effective. In today's research environment, our customers need reliability and accuracy but are constrained by price. ExpressPlus gives them turnaround time, price, and now access to all of CellPort Technologies."

The ExpressPlus Transporter assays were developed under the watchful eye of Absorption Systems' Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Ismael Hidalgo, who leads the company's research and development. Said Dr. Hidalgo, "These assays are the result of a coordinated effort for several years by our dedicated scientists. Absorption Systems is committed to delivering innovative test systems that make a difference by improving the ability of our customers to predict clinical outcomes. These assays were characterized thoroughly and subjected to rigorous scrutiny to ensure both accuracy and cost-effectiveness. Data accuracy is critical since it is the basis for important decisions as a compound proceeds further down the drug development pipeline. It is so gratifying to be able to help our customers develop safer, more effective drugs."
To learn more about CellPort Technologies and to view a video on our patented knockdown cell lines, visit absorption.com/cellport.

*The latest FDA draft guidance on drug interaction studies is available at

*The influential International Transporter Consortium white paper on transporters and drug development is available at http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v9/n3/full/nrd3028.html.

About Absorption Systems

Absorption Systems, founded in 1996, assists pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies in identifying and overcoming ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) barriers in the development of drugs, biologics, and medical devices. The company's mission is to continually develop innovative research tools that can be used to accurately predict human outcomes or to explain unanticipated human outcomes when they occur. The CellPort Technologies platform, a suite of human cell-based test systems for drug transporter characterization, exemplifies Absorption Systems' commitment to innovation and is soon to be an industry assay standard for in vitro drug interaction assessment. Absorption Systems has facilities near Philadelphia and in San Diego and Panama, and serves customers throughout the world. For information on the company's comprehensive contract services and applied research programs, please visit absorption.com